hystérie

hysteria

noun ees-teh-REE Rare

Origin: Greek hystera (uterus) — historical medical term

Usage Note

Hystérie once denoted a 19th-century medical diagnosis (now discredited and historically gendered). Today it is used colloquially to describe collective panic or wild excitement (l'hystérie collective). The adjective hystérique means 'hysterical'. Learners should be aware the term carries a loaded history and can be perceived as dismissive when applied to people's emotional reactions.

Examples

"L'annonce a provoqué une véritable hystérie dans la salle."

Natural Translation

The announcement triggered genuine hysteria in the room.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Greetings: Bonjour, Salut, Coucou Explained

Bonjour, salut, or coucou? Pick the right French greeting every time with a simple two-axis guide to formality and time of day, plus how to say goodbye.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Telling Time in French: Hours, Quarters, 24-Hour

Telling time in French means Il est cinq heures, et quart, et demie, and the 24-hour clock like quatorze heures trente. Read any French schedule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Object Pronouns: le, la, lui, leur Order

Le lui or lui le? Use the à-name test to pick le/la vs lui/leur, then one slot chart to order two French object pronouns — plus the command exception.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read